Method of beneficiating high carbonate phosphate ore

ABSTRACT

A phosphate ore flotation process subjecting a phosphate ore containing carbonate mineral impurities to froth flotation in the presence of modifying agents, said modifying agents being alkyl phosphonic acids and hydrofluoric acid, and a collector, said collector being fatty acids; collecting the phosphate and carbonate minerals as rougher concentrate from the overflow; subjecting the phosphate and carbonate mineral concentrate to a differential desorption with an acid to remove the fatty acid from the surface of the phosphate mineral; removing the separated carbonate minerals from the overflow; and recovering the phosphate values in the underflow.



